Question 1

How does Amex Platinum score in Clientele's Credit Cards comparison?

Accepted Answer

Amex Platinum scores 8.2 out of 10 overall, ranking number 3 of 7 in our independent Credit Cards comparison.

Question 2

What is Amex Platinum best for?

Accepted Answer

Frequent travelers who fly 20+ times per year and can use Centurion Lounges, capped Delta Sky Club visits, and the $200 airline fee credit. The card's value depends on traveling enough to capture its stacked credits, and got harder to justify after the September 2025 fee increase to $895.

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of Amex Platinum?

Accepted Answer

Pros: Access to 40+ Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges. More owned and branded lounge access than any other personal credit card in the US, though Delta Sky Club access is now capped at 10 visits/year unless you spend $75,000/year on the card. Roughly 16-17 airline and 3 hotel transfer partners, most at 1:1, including Air France Flying Blue, ANA, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold status automatically. Includes late checkout and bonus points without needing to stay 25 nights per year. $600 annual Fine Hotels + Resorts/Hotel Collection credit (up from $200), room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for two, and 4pm checkout at 1,000+ properties. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance covers up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period. Car rental Platinum status with Hertz, Avis, and National simultaneously. Includes upgrades and skip-the-counter access. Global Entry/TSA PreCheck $120 credit every 4 years and CLEAR Plus $219 annual credit, plus new $200 Uber Cash, $400 Resy, $300 Equinox, $300 lululemon, and $200 Oura Ring credits added with the 2025 refresh. Cons: 1x on all non-travel, non-flight spending means groceries, gas, and everyday purchases earn nothing extra. A household spending $3,000/month on non-bonus categories earns 36,000 points per year compared to 144,000 with Amex Gold at 4x. $12,000 spend requirement for the top welcome bonus tier is the highest of any card reviewed. Cardholders who spend under $3,000/month may not hit it in the 6-month window. Priority Pass access does not include standard airport lounges. Amex Platinum's Priority Pass gives access to restaurants with a $30 per person credit, not the 1,300+ airport lounges most other cards include. $895 annual fee (raised from $695 in September 2025) requires using most of the new, narrower statement credits (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura) to break even. Cardholders who don't fly, don't use these specific merchants, and don't use CLEAR are overpaying. Delta Sky Club access has been capped at 10 visits per year since February 2025. Frequent Delta flyers who relied on unlimited same-day access now need to track visits or spend $75,000/year to remove the cap. No 0% intro APR offer. This card is not suited for financing purchases. Amex is accepted at fewer international merchants than Visa and Mastercard. In some countries you will need a backup card.